I changed the world.

Seeing that this "senior expert" before him was clearly someone he could communicate with, Zhang Sicheng's lingering anxiety immediately eased. His smile grew even more warm and welcoming. He quickly took a few steps to stand before Gu Shunzhi and was about to bow deeply: "Sir, you saved my disciple the other day, and I haven't yet thanked you. Please accept my bow!"

Seeing this, Guan Zeping, who was standing nearby, knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying, "This disciple thanks Mr. Gu for saving my life."

"The junior was merely a bit rash, why such a grand gesture..." Gu Shunzhi simply offered a gentle helping hand, and Zhang Sicheng felt he could no longer bow, so he readily stood up. As for Guan Zeping kowtowing to the side, Gu Shunzhi did not stop him, and accepted his grand gesture without hesitation.

Guan Zeping kowtowed three times, then stood up again and respectfully retreated behind Zhang Sicheng.

The old man didn't put on any airs of a senior expert; he seemed quite approachable. He gestured forward and led Zhang Sicheng ahead. This rendered Zhang Sicheng's prepared remarks useless, but it also made him more certain of his guesses: this senior must have some significant connection with the Celestial Master's Mansion.

While pondering, Zhang Sicheng subtly waved his hand behind him. Seeing this, Fan Zeqing, who was following behind, deliberately slowed his pace and gave the other disciples a look. Gradually, the group split up, with Zhang Sicheng and Gu Shunzhi leading the way, while the other disciples slowed their pace and kept their distance, following far behind. Occasionally, they would chat with the boy Fasheng beside them.

Gu Shunzhi, seemingly oblivious to the actions of the Celestial Master's Mansion disciples behind him, led Zhang Sicheng forward at a leisurely pace, occasionally offering a comment on the surrounding scenery. Now that they had met the main character, Zhang Sicheng was in no hurry to reveal his purpose and rather cooperated by following along as a visitor.

After walking for a while, Zhang Sicheng came to a mountain wall, its rocks jagged and quite steep. At the foot of the mountain wall was a natural, semi-open cave that extended into the mountain wall for nearly a hundred meters and was several tens of meters wide, forming a natural activity space similar to a threshing ground.

Zhang Sicheng had already stopped Guan Zeping from introducing this place, and knew that this was probably the place where this senior had secluded himself for cultivation.

However, Gu Shunzhi did not lead him towards the cave, but stopped in front of a stone platform outside the cave.

This stone platform appears to have originally been a natural rock, which has been simply modified into a square natural stone table, with two simply carved stone stools placed on either side of the table.

As they got closer, Zhang Sicheng noticed that a Go board was carved in a crisscross pattern on the stone table, and two yellowed bamboo baskets were placed at the two corners of the stone table, filled with black and white Go pieces.

"Come, Celestial Master, would you like to play a game of chess with me?"

"It's what you wish for."

Zhang Sicheng was naturally familiar with Go, and even considered himself quite skilled at it. In fact, it was a popular form of entertainment in the upper echelons of the Da Zhao society. As the saying goes, "The green hills never tire of three cups of wine, and a long day is best spent with a game of Go." In the eyes of many self-proclaimed scholars, this was a "refined pursuit."

Chapter 539 Nephew Zhang Sicheng pays respects to his great-uncle!

The two then sat facing each other on the stone benches. As for the disciples behind them, led by the boy Fasheng, they went to a more distant place, where stone tables and benches were also set up, and then some food was prepared...

"The Celestial Master has come from afar as a guest; he should take the black piece."

"Then I shall respectfully comply." Zhang Sicheng was not overly polite, so he took the black piece and made the first move. After a moment of silence, Zhang Sicheng gently placed a black piece on the upper left corner star point. This was a move that was not very aggressive, just to adjust the rhythm of the game.

For Zhang Sicheng, the main purpose of coming here was not to win the game; whether he won or lost was not important.

Gu Shunzhi thought for a moment, picked up a white stone, and placed it about ten seconds later, occupying the lower left corner.

The two then began a game of chess, neither of them being impatient, and their moves were slow. After about ten minutes, Gu Shunzhi finally spoke, "When did the previous Celestial Master pass away?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sicheng's expression changed slightly. He put down the chess piece he was about to place and, after a moment's recollection, respectfully said, "So that you may know, sir, that my late father passed away suddenly from a heart ailment at the age of fifty-nine. Forty-four years have passed in the blink of an eye."

“Heart ailment…” Gu Shunzhi remained silent for a long time upon hearing this, then shook his head and sighed, “Jishun was ultimately too impatient. I told him back then to temper his character and wait patiently for the right time… Alas…”

"Sir..." Upon hearing this, Zhang Sicheng's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath and cautiously probed, "Do you know my father?"

"Speaking of which, your father used to call me uncle."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sicheng's first reaction was slight discomfort. After all, he had been in a position of authority for a long time. He had been the Celestial Master for over 40 years. From being cautious and timid at the beginning to being "highly respected and virtuous" now, as he grew older, wherever he went, he was always met with respectful and obedient people. Now that an elder had suddenly appeared, his first reaction was naturally some discomfort.

However, this discomfort was fleeting and disappeared without a trace, and Zhang Sicheng was immediately filled with uncontrollable joy.

In fact, his first reaction upon learning of the existence of a reclusive master on Ochre Peak was one of considerable trepidation. For most people in this world, the titles of "Contemporary Celestial Master" and "Number One Family in the South" undoubtedly commanded respect from everyone who met him. This was not merely based on the Xuanmen (Taoist) faith, but also stemmed from awe of the Celestial Master's Mansion, a colossal entity that had stood for millennia and possessed the resources it could mobilize.

However, for those reclusive masters who can command the wind and rain and control the thunder and lightning, it's hard to say how much worldly gain and profit would still be worth their attention...

Therefore, upon receiving the news brought back by Guan Zeping and discovering that this master was likely to have a great connection with the Celestial Master's Mansion, Zhang Sicheng even felt a sense of "ancestral blessing" and thus decided that he must come to pay a visit in person.

At this juncture, the Celestial Master's Mansion must possess its own "foundation" in any way; otherwise, the so-called giant of the Xuanmen sect and the number one family in the south will undoubtedly become nothing more than a mirage!

It was precisely because he had already grasped this point that Zhang Sicheng felt such extreme joy at this moment. Before coming, he had already made countless predictions in his mind. In his mind, even if this expert appeared arrogant, he would still want to befriend him, even if it meant humbling himself. And the situation before him was undoubtedly the best-case scenario he had envisioned!

Moreover, Mr. Gu's seniority corresponds to his previous discoveries and speculations, namely that Mr. Gu should be a good friend of his grandfather.

Therefore, no matter what, he was willing to believe what Mr. Gu said, and could only believe what Mr. Gu said!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sicheng was only slightly taken aback, but he had already made a judgment in his mind. He immediately feigned surprise: "I didn't know that Mr. Gu was actually an elder in my family!"

He immediately stood up, straightened his clothes with a serious expression, and bowed respectfully to the ground: "Nephew Zhang Sicheng greets Uncle!"

Gu Shunzhi did not help him up, and accepted the bow from him this time. Only after Zhang Sicheng finished the ceremony did he get up and invite him to sit down again.

“Chixuzi is my Buddhist name. Celestial Master, please just call me Chixu Zhenren. Now that you have ascended to the throne, there is no need to refer to yourself as a junior. We who are long-lived do not care about such things.”

Although Gu Shunzhi said so, Zhang Sicheng insisted that the proper etiquette should not be abandoned. In the end, it was decided that Zhang Sicheng would call Gu Shunzhi "Uncle", while Gu Shunzhi would call Zhang Sicheng "Celestial Master".

After this incident, the relationship between the two was different from before, especially Zhang Sicheng, who felt a greater sense of closeness to the old man in front of him.

"Things have changed, but people are no longer here..."

Gu Shunzhi's face was somber, and his words carried a hint of sorrow: "If I hadn't been in seclusion for so long, with no time to attend to other matters, Ji Shun wouldn't have ended up like this..."

“Uncle, please don’t blame yourself. How can this be blamed on you…” Zhang Sicheng hurriedly spoke up to dissuade him.

Suddenly, Gu Shunzhi covered his mouth and nose and began to cough in a low, hoarse voice, coughing more than ten times before stopping. Then, he pulled a red gourd from somewhere in his right hand, took a sip, exhaled, and the gourd disappeared from his hand. Zhang Sicheng clearly saw a flash of blue light on Gu Shunzhi's face.

"Uncle?"

Gu Shunzhi waved his hand, his expression gradually returning to normal, before he said self-deprecatingly, "It's just some old injuries, they flare up occasionally, it's nothing serious..."

Although he spoke casually, Zhang Sicheng dared not truly believe him. He guessed that this elder must have suffered some severe trauma that had lingered for so long. Thinking of this, he recalled Gu Shunzhi's earlier mention of seclusion for healing, wondering if this was indeed the case.

Gu Shunzhi gestured for Zhang Sicheng to continue playing chess. Zhang Sicheng didn't say much, so the two played a few more pieces before Gu Shunzhi continued, "I have been stationed here for a long time and have not come down the mountain. I am unaware of what has happened down the mountain recently. Since the Celestial Master has come to visit today, you may tell me about it."

Gu Shunzhi's words were exactly what Zhang Sicheng wanted to hear. He was still considering how to set the stage, and this question was like a pillow appearing when he was sleepy. So he went along with it and said, "Since you have inquired, Uncle, I will tell you about the current situation..."

As he spoke, he began by recounting the story of his father's death. He naturally avoided discussing the brothers' struggle for the throne, only mentioning how he took over the affairs of the Celestial Master's Mansion after inheriting the position, how he interacted with various sects of the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), the changes in society over the years, and some of the ideas and measures spread by the Xuanmen...

PS: There are two minor adjustments to the Dharma name Chixuzi in the previous text, which do not affect the overall reading experience. I will explain them here.

Chapter 540 A rumor without a basis may not be without cause!

Beyond the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), the discussion also touched upon technological development, the current world situation, and even the political landscape, including some of the policies implemented by Emperor Chenghe after his ascension to the throne, and humanity's exploration of outer space...

In addition, there are the most crucial factors: the recent sporadic occurrences of supernatural events, for which the state has already taken action; as well as some materials he has come across, and even some hearsay rumors about Yunxiao Mountain.

The matter concerning Yunxiao Mountain had been a long-standing concern for Zhang Sicheng, so he spoke at length about it, clearly wanting to hear the opinion of his uncle.

As expected, Gu Shunzhi did not disappoint Zhang Sicheng. After hearing the information about Yunxiao Mountain, he thought for a moment and said, "Hmm... Yunxiao Mountain is backed by Kunlun, so its heritage is extraordinary. However, you don't need to worry. Even Kunlun should strictly adhere to the Great Prohibition of Heavenly Connection and not have too much entanglement with the mortal court, let alone touch politics."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sicheng immediately understood that Gu Shunzhi clearly held "Kunlun" in high regard. He paused for a moment, and immediately associated the term with many myths and legends.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he tentatively asked, "Uncle, I remember the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* says: 'South of the Western Sea, on the shore of the Flowing Sands, beyond the Red River and before the Black River, there is a great mountain called Kunlun Hill.' And the *Jade Pivot Classic* also seems to record that Kunlun is the abode of the Heavenly Emperor… I wonder…"

As a contemporary Celestial Master, Zhang Sicheng was well-read, especially familiar with many esoteric texts. The name Kunlun was recorded in many ancient books of the Great Zhao Dynasty, but he had not paid much attention to it before, treating it only as mythology.

“The claim that the Heavenly Emperor resides in a certain place is an exaggeration. Since ancient times, there has been a distinction between immortals and mortals. Many ancient books offer only a glimpse into the whole picture and spread misinformation, so they should not be believed entirely. Our Xuanmen is not like that mortal court, so it is impossible for us to establish any Heavenly Emperor… However, Kunlun is a major sect in this world, one of the three sects, with a long history and is naturally of great importance.” As Gu Shunzhi spoke, he placed another piece.

Zhang Sicheng nodded in agreement and casually added a piece, but his mind was no longer on the chessboard. At this moment, what welled up in his heart was awe.

He was familiar with the term Kunlun; it was not some fabricated word that came out of nowhere. Therefore, he never doubted the authenticity of Gu Shunzhi's words from the beginning, because if that were the case, then those ancient myths and legends would have a reasonable explanation.

After all, in ancient times, recording texts and writing books were extremely serious matters, unlike the easily accessible and cheap methods of the internet age today. What was worth recording and passing down to posterity back then must have been considered extremely important by the ancients. Later generations, unable to verify these accounts, gradually regarded them as the ramblings of the ancients.

However, if Kunlun truly exists, then all those ancient myths and legends would have a reasonable explanation! The ancients may not have known much, may have only witnessed fragments, may have had some extraordinary encounters with wise men, or may have heard rumors, but they certainly did not conjure it up out of thin air!

However, if that's the case, then even from those few fragments of legend, one can roughly glimpse the mystery and antiquity of Kunlun, which can even be traced back to the ancient times before the formation of the Xia civilization...

Thinking of this, even someone as shrewd as Zhang Sicheng couldn't help but show a solemn expression...

Gu Shunzhi, however, seemed to see through Zhang Sicheng's thoughts and smiled reassuringly, "Don't overthink it. The three sects of Xuanmen are closely connected. In fact, the Celestial Master's Mansion is not a rootless duckweed..."

Without waiting for Zhang Sicheng to ask, Gu Shunzhi placed a piece and casually asked, "Jishun, I didn't tell you these things back then, did I?"

“My father passed away suddenly, before he could make arrangements for the afterlife…” Zhang Sicheng said with a sorrowful expression. He had long suspected this, and was convinced that his father had left many things unsaid.

However, recalling the situation back then, Zhang Jishun actually favored his second son over his eldest. Therefore, some factions within the Celestial Master's Mansion catered to his preference, supporting the second son in hopes of securing a future "meritorious service" in the succession struggle. But Zhang Jishun's sudden death, without leaving a will, meant that according to the patriarchal system, the eldest son, being the legitimate heir, would ultimately prevail in the subsequent succession battle. He had always understood this clearly, but now, there was no need to say more.

Gu Shunzhi nodded upon hearing this, clearly having anticipated it, and sighed: "The inside story should have been told to you by the previous Celestial Master, but since things have come to this, we should proceed as is. As the current Celestial Master, you should also know."

"I humbly request your guidance, Uncle!" Zhang Sicheng said respectfully, bowing with his hands clasped.

Gu Shunzhi nodded and casually waved his sleeve. Zhang Sicheng suddenly felt that the surroundings had fallen into silence. The sounds of insects chirping, birds singing, and the breeze rustling through the leaves that could be heard from near and far had disappeared in an instant, as if the whole world had stopped for a moment.

Then he realized that it wasn't that the whole world had stopped, but rather that the person in front of him had used some kind of secret method to isolate the surrounding sounds.

Before Zhang Sicheng could react, Gu Shunzhi said, "The matter of immortals and gods has a history and is not a fabrication."

“The immortal is one who moves.” As he spoke, Gu Shunzhi stretched out his finger and casually wrote in the air. A silver seal character appeared in the air as he wrote, which was the ancient form of the character “仙” (immortal): “To move into the mountains. Therefore, the character is made with the mountain radical next to the human radical.”

Gu Shunzhi glanced at Zhang Sicheng, who was listening respectfully, and continued, "The so-called three sects of Xuanmen are Kunlun, Penglai, and Fanghu. Our Xuanmen of Zhuxia has a long history. These three sects inherited the lineage of the Three Pure Ones and have continued to this day."

Upon hearing the names of the three sects, Zhang Sicheng was deeply moved and couldn't help but ask, "Are they the immortal mountains in the sea mentioned in ancient books?"

The idea of ​​a mythical mountain in the East China Sea was extremely popular in the Great Zhao Kingdom of this world, especially in ancient times before the Age of Discovery. Historical records show that many emperors dispatched fleets to cruise the East China Sea in search of this so-called mythical mountain in hopes of obtaining the elixir of immortality. Naturally, most of these searches ended in failure. However, it still appears from time to time in various unofficial histories and novels.

There are various accounts of the mythical islands in the East Sea, including Kunlun, Penglai, Yingzhou, Fanghu, Zhongshan, Liubo, and Gusha, among others. Furthermore, contradictory accounts are not uncommon in various historical texts.

However, after the Age of Discovery, myths and legends such as fairy mountains in the sea and sea monsters gradually fell out of reach.

At this moment, Zhang Sicheng had only one thought in his mind: "Where there's smoke, there's fire."

PS: Regarding the issue of Chi Xuzi's Dharma name in the previous chapter, I'd like to reiterate that I've reconsidered based on the context and made some corrections. Two places in the previous text have already been modified, which I'll explain here. According to Gu Shunzhi himself, he shouldn't have ever appeared in any region outside of Dan Ding Mountain.

In addition, following readers' suggestions, and to avoid unnecessary associations, the Yingzhou School of the Three Schools has been renamed the Fanghu School.

Chapter 541 The Three Sects of Xuanmen

“That is indeed true, but people of that time thought the immortal mountain existed at sea, which is a mistake!” Gu Shunzhi smiled and shook his head: “What is a mountain? A mountain is one that spreads. The spreading energy gives birth to all things; a mountain is also one that is hidden, the place where immortals live in seclusion…”